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Salem State University has issued a statement expressing "deep sadness" in the death of MIT police officer Sean Collier, 26, who graduated from the university in 2009.

Collier was killed in the line of duty late Thursday night after a confrontation with the two suspects responsible for the Boston Marathon bombings.

"We are deeply saddened to learn that Sean Collier, a member of Salem State’s class of 2009, was killed last night in the line of duty," the statement said. "He was a campus police officer at MIT. Sean received a criminal justice degree and graduated with honors. Our thoughts and sympathy go out to Sean’s family as well as all those affected by the recent tragic events in Boston."

The statement, which was posted on the school's Facebook wall at 10:11 a.m., has garnered over 170 comments from those in the community, also expressing deep sadness for the loss.

Acccording to a statement issued from the Middlesex District Attorney’s office at 10:20 p.m. Thursday night, gunshots were reported to police, and 10 minutes later Collier was found shot in his car. He suffered multiple gunshot wounds and was pronounced dead after arrival at Massachusetts General Hospital.